Reporting from the realm of the absurd: Rethinking space in a neoliberal world.

Abstract

Space is a central feature of contemporary society and capitalism is a uniquely spatial affair. As critical theories have tried to understand the implications of this reality over the past few decades, Marxism and “poststructural” theories have integrated space into their analysis, focusing on how capitalism has shaped it, the ways in which power/knowledge emerge through spatial realities and the coercive and disciplinary ways in which it shapes our bodies and subjectivities. Anarchist theory has also dealt with space, but has been inadequate in dealing with its full implications, limiting its potential in building a nuanced and sophisticated resistance. In this article, the author explores the politics of space through a neo-Marxist, “poststructuralist” and anarchist lens, arguing that these traditions need to be combined to rethink space and build new forms of subjectivities. In particular, the author focuses on two archetypes (the nomad and the vagabond) as examples that defy ideological and spatial constraints, exhibiting a uniquely anarchist subjectivity. [Article copies available for a fee from The Transformative Studies Institute. E-mail address: journal@transformativestudies.org Website: http://www.transformativestudies.org ©2010 by The Transformative Studies Institute. All rights reserved.]